Acquisition of Quickoffice Further Cements Google Mobile Presence

By Gerard Longo, Contributing Writer — June 29, 2012

The online advertising and search engine giant has continued to entwine itself within the world of wireless technology. The company will be adding Quickoffice to its Google Apps suite, which already includes popular Google applications including Google Calendar, Google Docs and Gmail. The Quickoffice software adds another element to the repertoire of Google Apps, allowing users to create, customize, view, edit and share Microsoft Office-formatted documents across mobile platforms such as Android and iOS.

This is a move by Google that sends a message to competitors that the company has come to play, especially considering that it comes less than a month after Google finalized its purchase of Motorola in an attempt to delve deeper into the mobile game and, eventually, create its own unique mobile device offerings. It also comes as rumors continue to heat up that Microsoft is looking to branch out and bring Microsoft Office programs such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel to other platforms. Nonetheless, Google has struck, gaining additional ammunition as it tries to attract even more mobile-driven business for itself.

Brand Recognition a Plus for Quickoffice

Becoming further involved with one of the most recognized brands on the planet in Google is undoubtedly a feather in the cap of Quickoffice. Quickoffice co-founder and CEO Alan Masarek seems to believe that the sky is the limit. In a letter released to the public on the company's website, Masarek noted that the office productivity suite had just gained a powerful ally when he wrote, "By combining the magic of Google's intuitive solutions with Quickoffice's powerful products, our shared vision for anytime, anywhere productivity can only grow."

It is needless to say, as well, that Google has deep pockets that can only help Quickoffice to grow and evolve. While Quickoffice seemed to be turning into a successful platform on its own, it now has a big-time player in its back pocket, which makes it an entity that its competitors, particularly Microsoft, can no longer ignore.

Is Microsoft Feeling the Pressure?

To Microsoft's credit, the success of its Office suite is going to be extremely difficult for Quickoffice - or for that matter, anybody - to top. Elements of Microsoft Office Mobile are beginning to trickle to other mobile operating systems such as iOS, and it is clear that Microsoft has put a fair amount of work into expanding and evolving its brand to stay in tune with a rapidly-changing mobile and technological atmosphere.

It is also fair to speculate, however, that Microsoft has been bracing itself for what Google and Quickoffice have been cooking up. Following Google’s acquisition of Quickoffice, a Wired.com article contained a statement from Microsoft that, according to author Caleb Garling, illustrates the company as having awareness of a growing threat. That statement in the article reads:

"Google Apps require compromise and don’t meet the productivity needs of most people and businesses. Google's primary focus is advertising so it's not surprising that they are trying to address the limitations of Google Apps through acquisition. Office Mobile provides a great, native experience that enables people to do the things that matter most."

What Microsoft realizes, even if the company is not willing to admit it directly, is that Google now has additional access to all of Microsoft’s mobile competitors through the acquisition of Quickoffice. The full version of Quickoffice is already available on Android and iOS, currently the two biggest mobile operating systems on the market. Even Symbian, though not as popular as its counterparts, gives its users the option of using either Quickoffice or Microsoft Office for on-the-go productivity.

Microsoft has not been slouching in response to this. Again, Microsoft has been rumored to be in the developmental stages of a full version of its Office suite that would be compatible with both Android and iOS. However, the company could be racing against time; depending on how Google decides to further develop Quickoffice and how quickly, as a result, the application gains additional traction in the mobile world, it could be Microsoft who becomes the runner-up in this particular battle between two technology titans.

Now that Google's latest acquisition has occurred, Microsoft is scrambling to remind the general public of just who they are. In turn, whatever response Microsoft comes up with is sure to be intriguing.

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